This work is from Carol Chen's debut collection, Neoterica, influenced by Singapore’s modernity, inclusive culture, and architecture. The title derives from the ancient Greek word “neōterikos”, which means new or young. To pay homage to traditional artistry of South and Central Asia, she incorporated zardozi embroidery, which features the use of silver threads and beads. The careful placement and scale of the embroidery is repeated for all five pieces of her winning collection. Additionally, most of the garments were made with unconventional methods and textiles, such as laser-cutting and recycled fabric. Actress Kiki Lim attended the Star Awards Ceremony 2021 at Changi Airport wearing this outfit. Carol Chen founded her eponymous brand in 2020 after establishing Covetella, a luxury clothes rental platform in 2015. She was the winner of Singapore Stories 2020, a fashion design competition organised by the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore for locally based, emerging designers.
